SEASONS GREETINGS FROM NANOOSE EDIBLES FARM!

Just a few more sleeps until Christmas. Our granddaughter arrived home from Australia today and our grandson arrives on Christmas Day.

All of us at Nanoose Edibles Farm wish you a happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year. 2015 will be ‘The Year of the Environment’, and will test our ability to care for this wonderful province, its beauty and abundant resources.

Most of the world’s troubles have stayed far away from us, but we have a heavy heart for our friends in Liberia, where we lived for most of the 1970’s. They suffered through a devastating revolution which pretty much destroyed the country, and have spent most of the past ten years rebuilding their villages and their lives. With a great deal of aid from Canadians and others, they were pretty much back on their feet when struck by the ongoing ebola virus, with many people still dying.

They are amazing survivors. Lorne and I are assisting with the development of a honey bee industry. This is going well, with the surviving members of the co-operative carrying on this endeavour. If you are interested in learning more, check out Vancouver based - Universal Outreach, Liberia.

Here on the farm we have had a good year. Great staff, good harvest, and everyone looking forward to the challenges of 2015. January/February will be taken up with the Seedy Saturday at Qualicum Beach and Seedy Sunday in Nanaimo, both great events worth attending. We will also be preparing to launch our Community Supported Agriculture Produce Box Program. We did a test run this fall, which was very well supported and keen interest shown to continue in the New Year. We will be featuring a wide assortment of farm-produced nutrient rich produce, sold in eight week increments, so that households can go in and out of the program as their households require during the year.

Beginning after the New Year our Friday, Saturday Sunday On-Farm Market will continue to provide customers with a good assortment of certified organic winter vegetables and fruit; products from local providers; frozen product from the farm freezers, including our organic stewing chickens and a wide variety of frozen berries. Not too late to make black currant or strawberry jam. Watch for early transplants from our propagation greenhouse.

Thanks to all the people who supported Nanoose Edibles at the regional farmers markets: Qualicum Beach Market, Parkville Museum Market, and currently the Island Roots Market in Nanaimo. Farmers Markets are good for the farm in a number of ways, but for us it is mostly a great opportunity for young staff to run a market independent of staff on the farm. Of course, they get picking assistance, but the success of the market is in their hands. We are always impressed how well they rise to the occasion.

Lorne and Barbara attended the B.C. Seed Gathering 2014 in Richmond this Fall. We were part of a group called ‘The Knowledge Keepers’ – now what could be nicer than that! It was a truly enjoyable and successful meeting with seed savers from all over the province meeting together to formally acknowledge the launch of a Provincial Seed Savers Co-operative to take in all the various seed savers groups and businesses around the province. It woke up our seed saving genes and we came back keen to get on with the cleaning and sorting seeds the farm produced this year. Besides using them ourselves, being able to offer them at the Seedy Days, we also have a buyer - Sugar Shack Seeds here in Parksville.

In wishing you a Happy New Year, we also ask for your support keeping the farm moving forward, caring for the land and coaching along a new generation of farmers to feed the Island’s growing population. The way we look at it, we are taking care of your health and constantly reading and discussing what we can grow and how best to grow it in order to bring you the healthiest produce possible, grown right here in your community. We look forward to seeing you at the farm. Thank you so much, Barbara, Lorne and the Gang.